A common question I get, “that’s cool you play Cricket… but what are you going to do for a job after you finish”, Oh… mmm??
How am I going to try and find work just as fulfilling and enjoyable for the next 30+ years?
At 27, most of my friends are well on their way to establishing career paths that will set them up for the next 30-40 years. If you were to see my CV, there is a gaping hole under the work experience section.
I have been fortunate enough to be a Professional Cricketer from the age of 19 – currently playing for Wellington Firebirds and the Netherlands National team – but what if it all ended tomorrow?! My ambition to transition successfully out of Cricket, into my next career just started to get exciting.
How do Professional Athletes get quality work experience before they reach the end of their career? I think we have many transferrable skills that can add value to all sorts of work environments, including the ability to perform under pressure, a dedicated work ethic, results driven and likely a reputable profile. But who is going to hire someone that can’t match the same commitment as other permanent employees? For chunks of the year they can’t physically be in the office or client facing. This might seem like a bad investment for an organisation?